Saturday, 18 July 2009

How did Emperor Augustus change the Roman Republic?

Augustus was
made consul after his defeat of Cleopatra and made a big show of relinquishing his dictatorial
powers to the Senate. However, he wasn't done exercising his newfound power to reshape the
Republic in ways he thought appropriote. 

Augustus was able to retain the
loyalty of the army and keep contorl of most of the Republic's finances, which allowed him to do
as he saw fit despite what objections the Senate may have had. They even went so far as to make
his obvious power constitutional by making him commander of the provinces for ten-years.

Augustus revived the ancient religious rites and ceremonies from the earlies
days of the Republic. He created a police force and developed the Praetorian Guard. He passed
several marriage laws which outlawed adultry and rewarded children.

Augustus
insured leave for soldiers with families and instituted a system of discipline where riotus
behavoir was met with decimation (executing every tenth man)


 

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